New Mooney Ultras certified

The factory in Kerrville, Texas, expects to begin deliveries almost immediately and produce about 50 of the newly certified aircraft in 2017, the company announced March 28. The Ultra enhancements for both Acclaim and Ovation include doors on both sides, a first for the M20 series, and significantly upgraded interiors. The Ovation Ultra logged its first flight in June.

Larger doors and windows make it easier to climb aboard this new generation of Mooneys, and the cockpits have been upgraded to include Garmin NXi avionics and a clean-sheet interior design. The 242-knot top speed of the Acclaim Ultra gives the company bragging rights as the fastest single-engine production piston aircraft, edging out Cessna’s TTx, which has a published maximum cruise speed of 235 knots. (Cirrus announced FAA certification of the single-engine, 300-knot Vision Jet in October, so the “piston” distinction now factors in Mooney’s speed superlative.)

Mooney crafted the sales pitch for the fleet’s new flagship around enhanced comfort, including a cabin wrapped in noise-reducing composite.

“The new Mooney Ultras have been specifically designed to once again raise the bar significantly for general aviation,” said Mooney International CEO Vivek Saxena, in a March 28 news release.

The 2016 list prices posted back in June were $659,000 for the legacy M20R Ovation, stepping up to $719,000 for the legacy M20TN Acclaim, and $769,000 for the new Acclaim Ultra. The company’s recently updated website has more detail on features and specifications, but omits prices.

The freshly certified M20V Acclaim Ultra will make its public debut at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In & Expo in Lakeland, Florida, April 4 through 9.